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2003 Ford Focus Cruise Control Problems

9 owner-reported cruise control complaints from NHTSA data

9
Complaints
2
Crashes
Jan 2008Sep 2005
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (9)

criticalVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Filed: Sep 2017

Your accelerator pedal is getting stuck and not releasing properly, forcing you to constantly adjust it while driving. You've taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic multiple times and a Ford dealer, but neither has been able to fix the problem or diagnose the exact cause. The fix will likely involve inspecting and replacing the accelerator pedal assembly or cleaning/repairing the throttle mechanism.

NHTSA #: 11023007
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CrashFiled: Apr 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. WHEN THE CONTACT PLACED HER VEHICLE INTO PARK, TURNED IT OFF, AND THEN STARTED IT UP AGAIN, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IF IT IS IN DRIVE, THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE FORWARD. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. IF THE VEHICLE IS IN REVERSE, IT WOULD SURGE BACKWARD. THE CONTACT ONLY NOTIFIED THE INSURANCE COMPANY. A CRASH OCCURRED AND AN OCCUPANT WAS INJURED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS ALSO FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,600 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

NHTSA #: 10224919
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CrashFiled: Jan 2008

CAR HAD SUDDEN ACCELERATION THAT WAS ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLE--AUG 2004 CAUSING CRASH WITH 1 INJURY & CAR ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY IN REVERSE CAUSING CRASH WITH DAMAGE TO HOUSE...BOTH ACCIDENTS COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL..OWNER WAS ACCUSED OF CARELESS DRIVING BUT WAS NOT AT FAULT EITHER TIME. *TR

NHTSA #: 10214935
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Filed: Aug 2007

CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED ON 2003 FORD EXPLORER AND FIXED AT A COST OF 1479.67 PAID BY THE OWNER (ANGELA MORGAN). VEHICLE REQUIRED SERVICING AS IT BEGAN STALLING WHILE IN TRAFFIC (ATLANTA). CRUISE CONTROL PROBLEMS CAUSED OTHER ELECTRONIC PROBLEMS. I WOULD LIKE A REFUND AS THIS CRUISE CONTROL PROBLEMS EXTEND BEYOND THE FORD 2002 MODELS; I HAVE A FORD EXPLORER 2003. PLEASE CONTACT ME ANGELA MORGAN *TR

NHTSA #: 10199085
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Filed: May 2007

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2003 FORD FOCUS ZX3 WITH LOW MILEAGE. I HAVE AN INTERMITTMENT PROBLEM WITH IT STOPPING. THE ENGINE SURGES AND WHEN YOU PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL IT IS STIFF. IT HAS ALWAYS DONE IT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. I HAVE HAD IT TO A FORD DEALER THREE TIMES. THE FIRST TIME THEY COULDN'T FIND WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT AND SAID THEY WERE CALLING FORD TO TALK TO THE ENGINEERS. FORD INFORMED THEM THEY HAD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THIS PROBLEM, BUT NO RECALL. THEY REPLACED THE BRAKE BOOSTER ON IT THE SECOND TIME. I PICKED IT UP AND THE VERY NEXT DAY I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND THE ENGINE SURGED EVEN MORE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS STIFF . THE FORD DEALER HAS HAD IT FOR A WEEK NOW WITH NO COMMUNICATION FROM THEM SO FAR. THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND GIVES NO INDICATION IT IT GOING TO DO IT. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL INCIDENTS WITH THIS STARTING IN NOVEMBER. SINCE THE BEGINNING OF APRIL THE PROBLEM HAS BECOME QUITE FREQUENT. *JB

NHTSA #: 10189928
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Filed: Sep 2005

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD ABOUT TWO FEET. HE HAD TO PRESS HARD ON THE BRAKES TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM LURCHING FORWARD. THIS DID HAPPEN EVERY TIME THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAS CONTACTED THE SERVICE DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT IT COULD BE SOMETHING WITHIN THE COMPUTER, BUT THEY WERE NOT SURE WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THEY INSTRUCTED THE CONTACT NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAS NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT WAS GOING TO CALL AFTER HE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA. *AK

NHTSA #: 10137120
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Filed: Aug 2004

THE CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE HAS 12,000 MILES AND THE VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. IT WILL REACH AS HIGH AS 7,000 RPMS WITHOUT EFFORT. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER AND NEITHER WERE WILLING TO ASSIST. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

NHTSA #: 10089291
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Filed: Apr 2004

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION. CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE RUMBLED AS IT ACCELERATED. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. VEHICLE BEGAN TO SURGE FORWARD. DRIVER PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK SO THAT IT WOULD COME TO A STOP. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. HOWEVER, DEALER STATED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK CONSUMER BROUGHT VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER FOR A SECOND OPINION, AND WAS TOLD THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *LA

NHTSA #: 10062860
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Filed: Mar 2004

WHEN DRIVING 20 MPH ENGINE REVVED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITHOUT INCIDENT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE THE CASE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE ADD ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA #: 10063067

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